Top 40 Foods that Cleanse and Detox the Body Naturally

Detoxification of the body has been practiced by thousands of cultures all around the world for thousands of years. Detox is about cleansing, nourishing, and allowing the body to rest from the inside out. In our toxic and chemical filled world, it’s more important to us now than perhaps ever before. Detox can help protect you from disease by removing dangerous toxins, and then renew your body’s ability to maintain optimum health. The list below can help you optimize digestion, improve your metabolism, and stop a dangerous accumulation of toxins to build up in the body. You can eat some of these each day to help detox your body naturally a little bit each day or choose to use these in juices when you are doing a detox routine. No matter which way you choose to consume them, these are all super healthy with powerful cleansing agents.

1. Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass will naturally restore the blood to an alkaline level. This helps to detoxify the blood while offering terrific protection for the liver. Wheatgrass increases the red blood cell count and can lower blood pressure. It also stimulates the body’s enzyme systems. Pound for pound, you will find that wheatgrass is 20 times more dense in nutrients than almost any other vegetable. Wheat grass has 98 of the earth’s 102 elements! Now that’s saying something!

2. Dandelions

These “weeds” are considered to be a powerhouse that is loaded with nutrients. Anyone who regularly eats processed foods should be consuming dandelion daily. The root of this plan is known for filtering toxins and waste from the liver and pancreas, allowing these organs a much needed rest. Dandelions are a great source of phytonutrients and a rich source of minerals, not to mention antioxidants that support a cleansing of the digestive tract. Try some dandelion root tea and add some leaves to your favorite salad.

3. Artichokes

Artichokes help the liver function at its absolute best, which will naturally allow your body to purge toxins. Artichokes increase the liver’s production of bile and bile is what breaks down foods so that your body can get all the nutrients possible.

4. Cabbage

Cabbage is well known for supporting healthy bowel movements and greatly lowering the risk of colon cancer. This can help you expel toxins as well as excess waste in the colon so your body can “start fresh”, so to speak. Cabbage is high in sulfur, which helps your body break down chemicals and then eliminate them. Cabbage is also high in a chemical that repairs the DNA in your cells, called indole-3-cabinol, which also appears to stop the growth of cancer cells.

5. Lemons

This cheery yellow fruit stimulates the release of enzymes that convers toxins into a water soluble form so that they can be easily removed from the body. Lemons seem acidic, but once inside the body they are alkaline forming, so drinking this first thing in the morning helps to balance the acid from the foods you will eat during the day. Lemons are also great at detoxifying the liver. Fresh, organic lemon juice has more than 20 anti-cancer compounds so it’s a must for every diet, every day.

6. Seaweed

This has got to be one of the most underrated and underappreciated vegetable in the Western world. McGill University in Montreal, Canada, showed in tests that seaweed actually binds to radioactive waste in the body. It also binds to heavy metals and helps to remove them from the body. Seaweed is also a great source of minerals, especially trace minerals. Seaweed supplements are available at all health food stores.

7. Onions

You probably have some onions in your kitchen right now and you have no idea how good they are for you! Onions are simply overflowing with a sulfur containing amino acids which are quite efficient at detoxing your liver. Eating them raw has the most benefits, so mix some in your salads, put them on your sandwiches, sprinkles some diced onion on top of your eggs. Onions have more polyphenol than garlic, carrots, tomatoes, and red bell peppers.

8. Fennel

The bulbs of fennel plants are very high in fiber and can prevent cancer of the colon. Fennel is also a great source of folate, an important B vitamin, as well as vitamin C, which is antimicrobial and vital for the support and proper functioning of your immune system.

9. Basil

Basil is another herb you probably have right in your kitchen. It’s full of antioxidants that protect the liver and has powerful anti-bacterial compounds as well. The active ingredients in basil are called terpenoids, and they help with detox and digestion. Basil also supports kidney function and acts as a diuretic to help remove toxins through the urine. Basil’s antimicrobial affects can help guard your from yeast, fungi, and bacterial infections.

10. Beets

One serving of organic beets can actually do more for your health than many of the conventional foods in the produce section of your store. Eating beets regularly can boost brain cells, reduce arthritis pain, and even fight cancer. Beets have a unique mixture of phytochemicals and minerals that make them super infection fighters, liver cleansers, and blood purifiers. They also help to increase the body’s intake of oxygen, which make beets a super detox food.